Queen Era: The Monster I Love - Chapter 125

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CHAPTER 123

“It is you. It is you. Eleora, my love and my blood. Oh my God. I am so sorry.”

“Era.”

“Oh my Ora, my lovely princess.”

“I was scared. They hurt mum and dad. They hurt everyone and killed them. Mum and dad said to go that we would see but, the bad men were there. I do not know but they… died. I saw them march with the…”

She tightened the hug on her sister’s body, preventing her from saying the painful words that itched to escape.

Era’s heart broke at the words that fell out of her sister’s mouth. She knew it all because she had a vision of the past. She saw it all and it must have been a terrifying thing for her young sister.

“It is okay now. You are safe. You are safe. No one ever would harm you again. NEVER.”

By their side, Aeverie watched with a heavy heart as the two sisters reunited and cried alongside them.

This was a touching moment and she could not even explain the kind of smile that would be in Era’s heart now.

At least she had a new sense of hope to move on, even if the children were not enough reason for her.

They stayed hugging each other for what seemed to be like forever in Damian’s eyes.

Although the latter stood tall like he was not affected by their reunion with only a smile on his face, the honest truth their reunion broke his heart.

He was happy for the sisters but at the end, he felt immeasurable pain because of it. At least Era got a chance to see one loved one. He knew he should not be jealous seeing as his people remained safe.

But what mattered to him the most were his pearls. His darling daughters that he had not yet set eyes on for years.

The pain felt like a vacuum, suctioning away emotions from his heart and leaving him bare with no hope.

Regardless, he wore a happy face and was glad for the sisters, masking his own anguish.

After some time they pulled away from each other and Era stood back up as she held her sister by her side and rubbed her head with her other hand.

“Lord Damian, thank you very much for what you have done.”

“It is nothing, your majesty. I only wish you to be happy and give you a reason to live.”

“Yes. Now I have all the reasons in the world to live and survive. I am happy.” The smile on her face was genuine and spoke volumes. Her heart felt full all of a sudden and the anger that once was no longer remained.

“Little Ora,” Damian called out.

“Yes?”

“I fulfilled my promise, right? I told you I and your sister are friends. I hope you would be happy and speak up more from now on?”

“Yes.”

“Good girl.” He peeled his gaze back to Era. “Your majesty.”

“Yes, Lord Damian?”

“I am afraid this is soon but I must ask. What next?”

She did not say anything and just smiled.

Although she did not have enough time to think about this when he summoned her, she tried to reason something out for her.

“For now, nowhere is safe for her in this Kingdom and it does not help that she is my exact replica. Anyone who knows me would know she is my sister and we do not want Caspian finding out, either.”

“Exactly. He can use it against you and make his majesty start suspecting that the whole treason plot was true.”

“I know. I have to be careful now. In as much as she is someone I love, she is a ticking bomb in my hands if the wrong person sees her.”

Just hearing what Era and Damaina were discussing, Eleora gripped Era around her waist more tightly than before.

She was scared of being alone again. Scared of having to leave the only family she knew and had in the world.

“Your majesty, if I may. It would be bad leaving her alone. First, she had to go through the horrors of war alone and after surviving and finding you, you want her to leave again?”

“I cannot allow her to die because of me. I love her.”

Eleora began to cry again and hugged Era’s waist even tighter. Her fears were beginning to take over.

“I love her and she is all I have in this world but I am a threat to her.”

“As she is to you. We need a solution. Should we dye her hair or something?”

“That may work but for how long. The resemblance is uncanny. She is just the smaller version of me.” They could see and hear the frustration in Era’s voice. It wasn’t an easy decision for her too.

“So what do we do?” Aeverie asked, still feeling sad and looking gloomy. “I would hate for you two to separate again.”

“I hate that too. But, I have thought about it carefully on my way here. She cannot stay in Lord Damian’s house because so many other Lord’s keep an eye on him because they were fear him and having her with him, if caught, he would be accused of treason harbouring the…”

“Do not say it. Elrad was not so much of a friend but I know he would never commit such.”

“Thanks. So there is only one place no one would expect her to be and although it would be temporary, it would suffice. I would just have to think on how to get her to school without disclosing her to the world.”

“She can be homeschooled,” Damian suggested.

“Then it must be someone who would swear secrecy to the grave until I am sure she is safe to be out in the open and then we can dye her hair or even do something to utter her appearance.”

“So where is this place?”

“You all know it. Where the war orphans are living.”

For all the grownups, they understood. It was only Eleora that did not have an idea as to where or what the place was but the name Era said gave her an idea.

There were people, kids like her. It was only natural. After all, now she was an orphan, both Era and herself were war orphans.

“I love you, darling,” Era began and squatted to her sister’s level. “But trust me when I say this. It is the safest place for now and the children there, are lovely. You would love them and have so many people to play with. You can even have your own baby.”

“My baby?”

Although Eleora was lost Aeverie understood. “Yes, there is a baby there that you would be happy to take care of till I can find someone trustworthy to be your teacher.”

She knew how much her kid sister loved children and how well she bugged their parents to give her a baby when they were alive.

“Okay. If you say so. I would treat her well.”

“That’s my Ora. For now, though, I would hate to part with you. So I have decided. For the first two weeks to one month, you would live with me in my chambers. Only Aeverie and my maids would know of your presence and take care of you. As well as hide you well.”

“But your majesty,” Damian interrupted.

Looking up at him, she answered. “Yes?”

“I believe one month is dangerous. Two weeks is okay. At least she wouldn’t be restricted too much as to only hide in the room and not even move to the balcony. I think two weeks is okay.”

“Yes. She is still a growing child and mixing is what she needs more. Besides, little Anna would be thrilled to have her there,” Aeverie advised.

“Yes, Anna. She would feel alive having my own sister with her. That way she would miss me less. They both would have each other.”

“And you can always go and visit them,” Damian chipped in.

“This is great,” Aeverie clapped her hands together in excitement.

“Okay. Are you okay with that? Two weeks with me and then you go live with the others?”

“So long as you promise to visit me once or twice in a week. I am okay.”

“It is a done deal then. Now, we must cover her well and get her to my room.”

“That would be no problem, your majesty. She would get in easily and get out safely.”

“Thanks.”

“Also,” Damian began. “You do not have to worry about Caspian. I have assigned that my guard that relayed my message to you to be your personal bodyguard and spy. He would ensure snoopy eyes deviates from your person.”

“That would be great. Thank you. Thanks so much for always being there.”

“It is what friends do, my queen. Meanwhile, how is your relationship with the king? Is he getting more to your side?”

At the same time, both Era and Aeverie looked away as they cleared their throats. “Ahem!”